So you’ve sustained a broken or cracked auto glass. This is really a heart-breaker especially if you’re a car fanatic! Don’t panic because fortunately for you, it can be repaired or replaced. In this article, I would outline the steps of how to actually replace your auto glass. 1) Preparation: Before you perform any automobile work, you must have a good set of hand tools such as a Flathead screwdriver (both small and large), a Phillip’s Screwdriver (both small and large), spanner set, socket set and bird-beak pliers. In addition, you would need a tarp, a repair manual for your vehicle and a vacuum (ordinary household vacuum). A tarp is usually useful for cleaning up. 2) Door Panel Removal: In your repair manual, turn to the page which deals with removal of the door panel. This is usually located in the section containing the removal of automobile body components. Follow the instructions and remove the door panel. Most door panels have a lot of snaps and screws. Use gentle pressure, exercise patience and you will be successful at removing the door panel! 3) Weathering Sheet Removal: Once you have successfully removed the panel, you should find a plastic sheet/weather barrier under the panel. Gently remove the weatherproofing sheet. Beware of the black sticky stuff (it can be a pain to remove this stuff from your fingers). With the weatherproofing removed, various access points are revealed. Notice the lift mechanism, bracket and clips. 4) Clean up the Broken Glass: This is where a thick pair of work gloves would come in handy. Use the gloves to remove any hunks of glass that might still be together (window tint usually causes this). Then after the hunks have been removed, use the vacuum to get the rest of the cubits out and carefully dispose in the trash. 5) Preparation & Insertion of the Replacement Glass: Essentially most of the dirty work has been completed; you can relax a little with a cup of coffee or something. After you’re done with that, wash the replacement glass. In addition, you should do some finger stretches. Next, take the 2-foot square piece of glass (with a slight bend in it) and fit it into the door through the 2-inch wide slot at the top. Attach the new glass/clips onto the lifting arm’s bracket. You may need a third or fourth extra hand to make things easier. In some vehicles, there may be a couple of bolt heads in the door panel. These usually support a post for the vent window. If they are unbolted, this allows the post to be pushed forward. This allows more room to maneuver the glass down into the channel. Finally you’re almost done! 6) Re- attachment of Door Panel: This step involves following your repair manual which would ensure you don’t have many problems. The repair manual shows you the placement of the bracket and clips that were bonded to the glass (verify with the step above and confirm using the manual). Once the top piece of weather-stripping is back in place, make sure the glass is aligned. In addition, make sure it can be raised and lowered without binding! Then tighten the bracket bolts and replace the weather-stripping and barrier sheet. Re-attach the door panel by following instructions from your repair manual and align the window crank lever, if you have one. Finally you’re all done; you can sit back and relax. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil
- Visit our social pages